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2009 September Teal Hunting Season Dates Announced

Annapolis, MD — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
announced today that the September teal hunting season will be from September 16
to September 30, 2009.

“The teal season provides a unique opportunity for hunters to pursue these early
migrants before the regular duck season opens in mid-October,” said Larry
Hindman, DNR’s Waterfowl Project Leader. “The early teal season is offered to
states that derive more than 80 percent of their annual blue-winged teal harvest
from birds migrating from the prairie pothole region of the north-central U.S
and southern Canada. In 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Breeding
Waterfowl and Habitat Survey recorded about 7.4 million blue-winged teal, which
is well above the long term average.”

The daily bag limit during the September teal season is four teal (blue-winged
or green-winged teal singly, or in aggregate). The special teal season will be
held only in the following areas: Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford,
Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester
counties; that part of Anne Arundel County east of Interstate 895, Interstate 97
and Route 3; that part of Prince George’s County east of Route 3 and Route 301;
and that part of Charles County east of Route 301 to the Virginia line.

Shooting hours for the September teal season are sunrise to sunset. Shooting
hours have been modified to avoid the traditional pre-sunrise hunting period
when non-teal species, particularly wood ducks, are most active. Hunters are
prohibited from shooting at non-teal duck species during this special season.

All hunters who participate in the September teal season, including landowners
who are license exempt, are required to obtain the Maryland Migratory Game Bird
Stamp/HIP Permit. Hunters must possess the printed receipt showing proof of
purchase of the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp/HIP Permit while hunting
migratory game birds.

All waterfowl hunters age 16 and over must possess the Federal Migratory Bird
Hunting and Conservation Stamp (federal duck stamp). Hunters are still required
to sign the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp and have it in
their possession while hunting waterfowl. Hunters may obtain federal duck stamps
at U.S. Post Offices, National Wildlife Refuges, DNR sport license agents, or
online at www.duckstamp.com.

Hunters can purchase hunting licenses and Maryland Migratory Game Bird
Stamps/HIP Permits online through DNR’s website,
https://www3.wildlifelicense.com/md/ or over the phone at 1-800-918-2870.
These new services compliment the existing 320 retail vendors that currently
sell licenses, permits and stamps.

Waterfowl hunters are reminded that nontoxic shot is required for hunting
waterfowl and coots. Hunters may not possess or use nontoxic shotshells
containing shot larger than size T or use or possess any lead shotshells while
waterfowl hunting. Approved types of nontoxic shot and other information on
migratory game bird hunting are listed in the 2009-2010 Guide to Hunting and
Trapping in Maryland or on DNR’s website at
http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide/index.asp

Hunters are encouraged to report banded migratory game birds by calling
toll-free 1-800-327-BAND (2263). Banded birds can also be reported online at:
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which
is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the state agency responsible
for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and
visitors. DNR manages more than 461,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles
of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum
environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land
conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources
attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's
effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental
priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov